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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs HEIDELORE Daoud" <customerservice@boa-abidjan.com>
Reply-To: benitaouraga@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2011 00:27:13 +0100 (CET)
Subject: From Mrs HEIDELORE Daoud .B
Dear
Compliments of the day to you ! My name is Mrs HEIDELORE Daoud, I.m 57yrs
old .I am a nationality Deutsch.I'm married to Deutsch (a German ) Mr
Roland HEIDELORE who worked with ELF OIL COMPANY for thirty years before
he died in the plane crash On 25th of July 2000 with other passengers
aboard, immediately after the death of my husband, who left me everything
he worked for and because the doctors told me I will not live longer than
some weeks because of my health, I decided to WILL/donate the sum of (Two
million four hundred thousand united state dollars) to you for the good
work/humanity, and also to help the motherless and less privilege and also
for the assistance of the widows.
I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, and
please use the funds well and always extend the good work to others. I
will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task
is accomplished as I don't want anything that will jeopardize my last
wish.
Thank You and Bless You richly!
Yours Sincerely
Mrs HEIDELORE Daoud
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